With nine rounds of matches completed divisions one, two, three and five of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League all have one team who have broken away from the rest at the top of the table.

OCA A lead the way in division one with 48 points from six matches and this week they beat Danbury A 8-2. Matthew Mulley (15 wins out of 15) retained his 100 % record whilst Paul Lucas and new signing Keiran Lally both won twice. Danbury’s Babul McLeod scored an outstanding (12-10, 11-4, 5-11, 6-11, 12-10) win over Paul Lucas whilst Dave Richardson secured a fine (11-8, 11-9, 11-9) victory over Keiran Lally. Chelmsford A (represented by the youthful line-up of Harry Chivers, Saul Chivers and Josh Bickles) overpowered Chelmsford B 10-0. Try as hard as they did the Chelmsford B side of Kim Shead, Simon Jarvis and Paul Nicol just couldn’t get a foothold in this match. A strong Danbury C team ran out 8-2 winners against Writtle A. Keith Adams powered his way to three wins whilst Lee McHugh won twice for Writtle. Good wins as well. He beat Paul Davison (5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 12-10) and Trevor Lloyd (5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 11-6).

Galleywood A returned to winning ways in division two and they have 62 points from eight matches. James Hicks (90 %) who has led this team in impeccable style was undefeated in their 8-2 win over Writtle C. He beat John Webber (11-9, 16-14, 12-10), John Gagg (11-8, 11-4, 11-8) and Gary Ward (9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-4). No fewer than five games were decided by 6-4 score-lines.  Danbury D are second but they missed out 6-4 against Writtle B. This was no fault of Daniel Piggott who won his three singles, beating Paul Sturton (11-9, 11-5, 18-16), Richard Storey (12-10, 10-12, 11-5, 12-10) and Matthew Brown (9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 12-10). Team-work enabled Danbury E to get the better of Maldon A 6-4. Seven games were decided in the fifth end and no one player remained undefeated. Danbury’s Dick Wyman and Neil Want and Maldon’s Lloyd Bennett-Smith and Hamish Innes all won twice. Hatfield Peverel A ran out 6-4 winners against OCA B although none of their players were able to get the better of Kevin Worthington who was on top form. Worthington raced to wins over Gareth Davies (11-8, 13-11, 11-7), Julie Johnson (11-8, 11-4, 11-6) and Alastair Piper (11-8, 11-6, 15-13).  Chelmsford D beat Chelmsford C 6-4 with Nikita Tkachuk winning his three singles. Nikita defeated Robert Shrimpton, the best of the Chelmsford C players (11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6).    Galleywood B did well to beat OCA C 6-4. Good going as Mick Richardson won his three singles for the Old Chelmsfordians side. Galleywood’s Bryn Thomas scored a fine (11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 7-11, 11-8) win over David Porter.

Danbury F are clearcut leaders in division three with 63 points from eight matches. Gus Heath and Steve Buer were both undefeated against Maldon B who they beat 9-1. Dawn Baldry was on target for Maldon B with a (10-12, 5-11, 16-14, 11-6, 11-9) win over Dave Powell. Steve Buer scored three 3-0 wins beating Garry Eames (11-5, 11-1, 11-3), Andrea Alleyne (11-8, 11-2, 11-9) and Dawn Baldry (13-11, 11-6, 11-9). Maldon B fared better against Writtle D and they drew 5-5. League stalwart Brian Riedling won his three singles for Maldon although he had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Malcolm Henstock (12-10, 7-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9). Chelmsford E were impressive 9-1 winners against Chelmsford F. Aidan Lees and Rev Matthews were both undefeated. Cleon Fernandes was on target for the losers with a five game (10-12, 11-5, 7-11, 11-3, 11-2) victory over  Joachin Mapes. Danbury G ran out 8-2 winners against Hatfield Peverel B. Ken Sheard and Alan Scammell both bagged hat-tricks. Ken Sheard had to work hard to see off Paul Mulley (12-10, 12-10, 7-11, 13-11).

Second placed Buttsbury A were the week’s big winners in division four. Jamie Elliott, Frances Hutt and Kevin Willis powered to a 10-0 win over Hatfield Peverel C. Danbury L are top and they beat Danbury M 6-4. Tim Pulham was undefeated for Danbury M and he sealed his hat-trick by beating Alan Dadswell (7-11, 11-5, 12-10. 7-11, 11-9) in the last game of the night. Harrison Hill (94 %) was again unbeaten although it wasn’t enough to prevent Chelmsford G losing 6-4 to Galleywood C. Emilie Guilloux defeated Nathan Blore by a last gasp (12-10, 8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 12-10) margin. Team-work, in this case two wins for Neil Wood, Bob Hillis and Deb Ginn enabled Hatfield Peverel D to beat Chelmsford H 6-4. Deb Ginn beat Felix Reeve (11-4, 7-11, 9-11, 12-10, 14-12).  OCA E scored their fourth win of the Season, beating Chelmsford H 8-2.  Farooq Ahmed led the way with three wins and he completed his hat-trick with a (3-11, 15-13, 11-3, 11-6) victory over Cleon Fernandes who had won twice for the Chelmsford side.

Highwood A stay top in division five with an impressive total of 69 points out of 90. This week they were held to a 5-5 draw by Chelmsford J, the first time they had failed to win a match. Key results here included a (11-9, 11-7, 4-11, 6-11, 11-7) win for Vishnu Surendran over Keith Pallett, a (11-2, 11-5, 5-11, 7-11, 11-9) victory for Peter Davenport against Keith Fitz-John and an excellent (7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 14-12) success for Jacqui Smith over Melanie Bonnett. Highwood B defeated second-placed Danbury N 7-4. Roger Patient won his three singles and he was supported by David Cockrell and Martin Goddard who both won twice. Buttsbury B defeated Galleywood D 7-3 with Frances Hutt leading the way with three wins whilst Lucy Elliott won twice. Writtle F also won 7-3, beating Maldon C.  Maldon’s Ross Wheeler was involved in two hard fought five enders. He beat Ron Tam (11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 8-11, 13-11) but he lost to Jo Hart (11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 7-11, 10-12). Writtle F added a further six points to their tally by beating Galleywood D 6-4. Paul Aarons (two wins), Ron Tam (two wins) and Jo Hart (one win) all played their part in this success although none of them were able to get the better of Nathan Blore.

Buttsbury Bears moved into pole position in Junior division 1A. They beat Chelmsford Tigers (4-1) and Danbury Dragons (3-2). Calum Walker won his four singles although he was taken to five ends on three occasions. He beat the Danbury Dragons duo of Oliver Martin (12-14, 13-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-3) and Oliver Ware (10-12, 11-9, 11-2, 6-11, 12-10) and Chelmsford Tigers’ Pavanaj Srinivasmurthy (11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 6-11, 11-7).

Calum Walker was also in action in Junior division 1 B and he led Buttsbury Bats to a 5-0 win over Chelmsford Cougars who still lead the way at the top of the table. Joseph Hutt was also undefeated in what was a very good result for Buttsbury Bats. With two different players Buttsbury Bats lost 3-2 to Buttsbury Bees. Charlie Ware won twice for the Bees beating Torsten Greeenan (11-3, 11-7, 13-11) and Thomas Lewis (11-4, 11-6, 11-3).

 Steve Kerns Press Officer Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League